Fluid pressure timed cycle control apparatus



Patented Nov. 25, 1952 FLUID PRESSURE TIMED CYCLE CONTROL APPARATUS Ralph 0. Brooks, Turtle Creek, and Fred S.

Whaley, Greensburg, Pa., assignors to Westinghouse Air Brake Company, a. corporation of Pennsylvania Application December 20, 1950, Serial No. 201,804

4 Claims.

This invention relates to fluid pressure timed cycle control apparatus and more particularly to such control apparatus for controlling a cycle of operation of a fluid pressure motor.

In certain operations performed by a fluid pressure motor of the type which responds to assume one operative position upon receipt of supply of fluid under pressure and to a repose position upon release of such supply of fluid under pressure it is desirable to hold such supply of fluid under pressure in the motor to prolong its operative position. When it is necessary for an operator to time the duration of retention of fluid under pressure in the motor and then, through conscious effort on the operators part, effect release of such fluid under pressure, much of the operators time is wasted in waiting to and for such release, prior to beginning a new cycle. When the motor is employed in a production set-up, such waste time will materially increase the cost of the time operation being performed by the motor.-

In view of the foregoing, it is a prime object of the invention to provide fluid pressure apparatus for effecting operation of a fluid pressure motor through a timed cycle automatically without requiring the conscious effort on the part of an operator with respect to timing the cycle.

Other objects and advantages will become obvious from the following more detailed description of the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a schematic representation, partly in outline and partly in section of a fluid pressure control apparatus embodying the invention; and Fig. 2 is schematic representation in cross-section of a relay valve device, several of which are shown in outline in Fig. 1.

Descr ption 7 ing 2 and rod 8 prevents leakage of fluid un- Referring to Fig. 1, the control apparatus embodying the invention is shown associated with a fluid pressure motor I, which, for sake of illustration, may comprise a hollow cylindrical casing 2 closed at opposite ends by removable heads 3 and 4, respectively. A piston 5, reciprocably disposed in the casing 2, is subjected opposingly to pressure of fluid in chambers 6 and I at its opposite sides, which chambers are defined by heads 3 and 4, respectively. 3 A piston rod 8 is attached at its one end for reciprocable movement with the piston 5. The rod 8 extends through the pressure chamber 6 and through an accommodating opening in the head 3. A sealing ring 9 cooperable between the easder pressure from chamber 8 past rod 8 to atmosphere. The outermost projecting end of the piston rod 8 is adapted for connection to a device (not shown) to be moved from one position to another position, to be held in the latter position for a certain length of time and then to be returned to its original position to complete a cycle of operation.

The control apparatus embodying the invention comprises a fluid pressure storage reservoir l5 for storing fluid under pressure, such as compressed air from a compressor (not shown), to act as a source of supply of working medium for the apparatus; a reducing valve device It to regulate and maintain the pressure of the fluid supplied to the apparatus from the reservoir 15; a push button valve device I! to control starting of a cycle of operation of the apparatus; relay valve devices [8 and H], a shuttle valve device 20, a check valve device 2|, a volume reservoir 22, and a needle valve device 24 arranged, as will be described subsequently, in c operation between the push button valve device I! and the motor I to effect and time supply and release of fluid under pressure to and from the respective pressure chambers 6 and I in the motor I.

The system supply pressure should be about fifty pounds for example, and it is the function of the reducing valve device [6 to maintain such pressure when fluid at a greater pressure is supplied to the reservoir l5. Outlet from the reducing valve device It is connected to a fluid pressure supply pipe 26.

The push button valve device IT, for sake of illustration, schematically may comprise a casing 28 having a supply chamber 30 connected to a branch of the supply pipe 26, a delivery chamber 32 connected to a pipe 33, and an exhaust chamber 34 constantly open to atmosphere via a port 36. The delivery chamber 32 is separated from the supply chamber 30 by a partition 38 and from the exhaust chamber 34 by a partition 40. Aligned openings 42 and 44 are provided in partitions 38 and 40, respectively, which extend between the delivery chamber 32 and chambers 30, 34, respectively. A supply valve 46, disposed in supply chamber 30 is arranged to cooperate with a seat in partition 38 to control communication between delivery chamber 30 and said supply chamber. An exhaust valve 48,- disposed in exhaust chamber 34, is arranged to cooperate with a valve seat formed in partition 40 to control communication between delivery chamber 32 and said exhaust chamber. Each of the valves 46 and 48 are attached to a respective fluted stem 50 slidably disposed in openings 42 and 44 and projecting into the delivery chamber 32 into abutment with one another. The length of the abutting fluted stems relative to the distance between the two valve seats is such that only one or the other of valves 46 and 48 will be seated at one time. A compression spring 52, disposed in supply chamber 30 is arranged to urge the supply valve 46 and the exhaust valve 40 toward their seated and unseated positions, respectively, in which they are shown in the drawing. To act as a medium through which the valves 46 and 48 may be actuated to unseated and seated positions, respectively, in opposition to action of the compression spring 52, a stem 56 is provided attached to valve 40, eX- tending through exhaust chamber 34 and outwardly through an accommodating opening in the casing. The outermost projecting end of the stem 56 is provided with a button 58 to facilitate manual application of a thrust force to said stem for valve actuation.

Referrin 'to Fig. 2, eachof the relay valve devices I8 and I9, for sake of illustration, schematically may comprise a casing I having a diaphragm IOI disposed therein and subject to pressure of fluid in a diaphragm control chamber I02 onits one side and to pressure of fluid in a chamber I03on its opposite side. Also formed in the casing are chambers I04, I and I06, chamber I04 being separated from chamber I03 by a partition I01 and from the chamber Why a partition I08. A partition I09 separates chamber I05 from the chamber I06. A valve H0 is disposed in chamber I04 for controlling communication between the chamber I05 and said chamber I04. The valve IIO may be secured to a fluted stem I II slidably mounted in a's'uitable bore extending-through the partition I08, a valve seat being formed at the end of the bore opening into the chamber I04 to accommodate the valve IIO. A valve II2, similar'to valve H0, is disposed in the chamber I06 for controlling communication between the chamber I05 and said chamber I06. The valve H2 'is attached to a fluted stem II3 which is slidably disposed in a suitable bore extending through the partition I09, a valve seat being formed in the end of said bore opening into the chamber I06 to accommodate the valve II2. Both of the fluted stems III and I I3 project into and meet in the chamber 105. A biasspring II4'is' disposed in the chamber I06 arranged'to urge the valve II2 towards its seat and at the same time, through engagement of stems III and II 3, to urge the valve I I0 away from its seat. The valve H0 is operably connected to the diaphragm IOI by means of a rod or stem II5 extending through a bore in the partition I01. A control spring lls'is provided in chamber I03 to oppose deflection'of the diaphragm IOI in th direction of chamber I03.

In operation'of the relay valve device shown in Fig. 2, with the chamber I03 open to atmosphere, upon supply of fluid under pressure to the control chamber: I02 the diaphragm IOI will deflect in the direction of the chamber I03 against opposition of the control spring H6 and the, bias spring H4 and will cause seating of the valve H0 and unseating of the valve II2. With the valve IIO closed and the valve II2 open, chamber I 05 will be closed to the chamber I04 trol chamber I02, the bias spring H4 and the. control spring III; will return the diaphragm IOI and valves III] and H2 to the positions in which they are shown in the drawing, the valve II2 being seated and the valve IIO being unseated. With valve IIO seated and the valve II2 unseated, the chamber I05 will be closed to the chamber I06 and open to the chamber I04. If, at the time that fluid under pressure is supplied to the control chamber I02, the chamber I03 is charged with fluid at substantially the same pressure as that in said chamber I02, it will be seen that the effect of the pressure at one side of the diaphragm will balance the efiect of pressure on the opposite side and said diaphragm will not deflect, but rather will remain stationary with the valve [I2 remaining seated and the valve IIO remaining unseated. If, while the control chamber I02 and chamber I03 are charged with fluid under pressure and the diaphragm is thus stationary, the fluid under pressure is vented from chamber I03, the pressureof fluid in said control chamber will then deflect the diaphragm to seat valve H0 and unseat the valve 'I I2 as aforedescribed. If, on the other hand, with the control chamber I03 charged with fluid under pressure, diaphragm IOI thus deflected and the chamber I03 vented to atmosphere, fluid under pressure is then supplied to the chamber I03 to balance the pressure forces on the diaphragm IOI, the springs H4 and III; will return the diaphragm and valves H0 and I I2 to the positions in which they are shown in the drawing. The valve I I2 will again be seated and thevalve I I0 unseated.

Hereinafter, in describing operation of any of the valve devices in the apparatus which are similar to the device shown in detail in Fig. 2, when the valve H0 is unseated and the valve H2 is seated, a communication, to be hereinafter designated II8, will be established connecting the chamber I05 to the chamber I04, and when the valve IIU'is-seated and the valve II2 unseated, a communication, to be hereinafter designated.- I-I9, will'be established connecting thechamber I05 to' the chamber I06. When either of communication 1 I8 or I I9 is established, the other is disestablished. The communication H8 is indicated symbolically in the different valve devices in the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 by the solid line bearing the reference numeral H8 and the communication H9 is indicated by a dash-line bearing the reference numeral H9.

The shuttle valve device 20 in a well-known form may simply comprise the usual piston valve I20 which will assume a'jposition to establish connection between an outlet opening I2I and whichever of two opposite inlet openings I22 and I23 is at a pressure greater than the other inlet opening and to vent said outlet opening I2| to atmosphere only'when both of such inlet openings-I22 and I23 are so vented.

One inlet opening I22 of shuttle valve device 20 is connected to the pipe 33 and the opposite inlet opening I23 of device 20 is connected to a bran-chofa pipe I40 which has other respective branches connected to the pressure chamber 1 in the motor I, to the delivery chamber I05-in the relay valve device I8, and to the control chamber I02 in the-relay valve device I9.

The check valve device .2I may be of any well known type which is provided with an inlet and anioutlet connection to, respective pipes and which will allow for flow of such as fluid under pressure from its inlet to its outlet as indicated by the arrow shown in the drawing but will prevent flow in the opposite direction.

The needle valve device 24 for sake of illustration comprises a casing I50 having an inlet chamber I5I and an outlet chamber I52 formed therein; the two chambers being separated one from the other by a partition I53. The partition I53 is provided with a tapered opening I54 extending therethrough into which the conical shaped end of an adjustable needle valve element I55 is adapted to project in varying degrees for controlling the area available for flow of fluid under pressure through opening I54 from chamber I5I to chamber I52, in the usual manner. A portion of the needle valve element I55 may be in screw-threaded engagement with the casing I50 and another portion may project outwardly of the casing to allow for manual turning movement thereof. A knurled knob I56 attached to the outermost projecting end of valve element I55 facilitates such manual turning movement. A pipe I60 and its branches connects the outlet opening I2I of the shuttle valve device 20 to the outlet of the check valve device 2I, to the inlet chamber I5I in the needle valve device 24, and to the control chamber I02 in the relay valve device I8.

A pipe I62 and branches thereof connects the volume reservoir 22 to the inlet to the check valve device 2|, to the outlet chamber I52 in the needle valve device 24, and to the chamber I03 in the relay valve device I 8.

In the relay valve device I8, its chamber I04 is connected to atmosphere by way of a pipe I64, and its chamber I06 is connected to a branch of the fluid pressure supply pipe 26.

In the relay valve device I9, its chambers I03 and I06 are connected to atmosphere by way of pipes I65 and I66, respectively, its chamber I04 connected to a branch of the fluid pressure supply pipe 26, and its chamber I05 is connected to the pressure chamber 6 in the fluid motor I via a pipe I68.

Operation In operation of the fluid pressure control al paratus, assume that the storage reservoir I5 is charged with fluid at a pressure in excess of fifty pounds, for example, and that the reducing valve device I6 is set to deliver fluid at such as flfty pounds pressure to the supply pipe 26 which is so charged. Assume that the push button 58 of valve device I1 is in its outermost position and that therefore the valves 46 and 48 are in respective positions in which they are shown in the drawing, to close ofi the supply pipe 26 from the pipe 33 and to vent the latter pipe 33 and thereby inlet opening I22 of device 20 to atmosphere. Assume further that the relay valve device I8 is in its position establishing its communication II8 venting the pipe I40 to atmosphere via pipe I64, an assumption that will be validated by subsequent description.

With the pipe I40 vented, the pressure chamber I in the motor I will be void of fluid under pressure and the piston and attached rod 8 will be in their lowermost position, as viewed in the drawing, by virtue of previous efiort exerted by preponderance in pressure of fluid in pressure chamber 6, as will be described hereinafter.

Also with the pipe I40 vented, the inlet opening I23 of shuttle valve device 20 will be vented, so that with both inlet openings I22 and I23 in shuttle valve device 20 vented, the outlet of 6 check valve device 2| and the control chamber I02 in the relay valve device I8 will be vented via pipe I60 and said shuttle valve device.

With the outlet of check valve device 2! vented via pipe I60, the pipe I62 hence the volume reservoir 22 and chamber I03 in relay valve device I8 will be void of fluid under pressure.

With its control chamber I02 vented via pipe I60, the relay valve device I8 will be positioned with its communication H8 in establishment venting pipe I40, as previously assumed, and with its communication H9 in disestablishment, preventing supply of fluid under pressure from supply pipe 26 to the pipe I40, as will be appreciated from previous description.

Still further, with the pipe I46 vented via communication H8 in relay valve device I8, the control chamber I02 in relay valve device I9 connected to pipe I40 will be vented and therefore void of fluid under pressure, so that therelay valve device I9 will be positioned with its communication H8 in establishment connecting the supply pipe 26 to the pipe I 68, and with its communication III) in disestablishment disconnecting the pipe I68 from atmosphere via pipe I66.

With pipe I68 connected to the supply pipe 26, the pressure chamber 6 in motor I will be charged with fluid at such as fifty pounds for chosen example.

With the fifty pound pressure of fluid in motor chamber 6 preponderating over atmospheric pressure in chamber I, the piston 5 will be held in its lowermost position in which it previously was assumed to be.

Now assume that it is desired to effect a cycle of operation of the motor I, the operator will consecutively depress and release the push button 58 of the valve device IT in rapid succession, by hand or foot, for example.

During the short time that button 58 is depressed, the exhaust valve 48 will be closed and the supply valve 48 will be open long enough to allow a quantity of fluid under fifty pounds pressure to flow from the supply pipe 26 via the temporarily unseated supply valve 46, pipe 33, shuttle valve device 20, and the pipe I60 to the control chamber I02 in the relay valve device 18 and to the inlet chamber I5I in the needle valve device 24.

The needle valve device 24 at this time so restricts flow of fluid under pressure from pipe I60 into the pipe I62 that, momentarily, nearly all of the quantity of fluid under pressure supplied to the pipe I60 flows into the control chamber I02 in the relay valve device I8 to rapidly increase the pressure therein. Also, at this time, even though some small quantity of fluid under pressure may flow through the needle valve device 24, such quantity will not appreciably increase the pressure of fluid in the chamber I03 in the relay valve device I8 due to size of the volume reservoir 22 which also receives fluid under pressure from the pipe I62 and need receive an appreciable quantity of fluid under pressure before any chamber connected to pipe I62 will be increased to any appreciable extent. For sake of illustration, therefore, the pressure of fluid in chamber I03 of the relay valve device I8 at this time may be assumed to remain at substantially atmospheric pressure and the fluid under pressure supplied via pipe I60 to chamber I02 will rapidly build up to cause such as a required twenty pound pressure differential to be established across the respective diaphragm Ifil in opposition to action of the respective spring II6 which diiierential is sufficient to cause the relay valve device l8 to disestablish its communication I I8 and simultaneously to establish its communication II9. The pipe I40 thereby is disconnected from the atmosphere and connected to the supply pipe 26, whereupon fluid under pressure will flow from supply pipe 26 via communication H9 in the relay valve device I8into the pipe I40, thence to the pipe I60 via shuttle valve device 20, to the respective control chamber I02 in the relay valve device I9, and to the pressure chamber '7 in the motor I.

Such subsequent supply of fluid under pressure to the pipe I60 from the pipe I40 will maintain the relay valve I8, control chamber I02 pressurized to the extent of such as fifty pounds, for example, with adequate pressure differential of at least twenty pounds across the respective diaphragm IN to maintain establishment of the respective communication H9 through which the pipe I40 is being supplied with fluid under pressure from the supply pipe 26. Fluid under pressure from the pipe I60 also will flow at a controlled rate, depending upon adjusted position of the needle valve element I55, through the needlevalve device 24 to the pipe I62, thence to the volume reservoir 22 and the chamber I03 in the relay valve device I8, increasing the pressure in same at said controlled rate.

Meanwhile, fluid at supply pressure supplied to the pipe I40 via device I3 will also fiow into the control chamber I02 in the relay valve device I9 whereby the pressure in said chamber will be built up to some such value as forty-five pounds for example, sufiicient to overcome action of the respective control spring I I6 in absence of opposition by any fluid under pressure in the opposite chamber I03, which is constantly open to atmosphere, and thereby effect disestablishment of the respective communication II 8 and substantially simultaneous establishment of the respective communication H9. Thus the pipe I68 becomes disconnected from the supply pipe 26 and connected to atmosphere via the pipe I66, whereupon the fluid under pressure in the pressure chamber 6 in the motor I absents itself via pipe I68. With chamber 6 thus vented the fluid under pressure supplied to the pressure chamber 1 in the motor I then becomes effective to cause movement of the piston and attached rod 8 to its opposite position defined by engagement of said piston with a shoulder I80 formed in head 3, for example. I

The piston 5 is held in such position, as desired, until the flow of fluid under pressure from pipe I60 through needle valve device 24 into pipe I62 to volume reservoir 22 and chamber I03 in relay valve device I8 causes the pressure in said reservoir and chamber to increase to within twenty pounds of the pressure in the respective control chamber I02 in said relay valve device, at which time the respective control spring II6 will act to cause disestablishment of the respective communication H9 and establishment of the communication IIB. Thus, the pipe I40 becomes vented to atmosphere, with consequent release of fluid under pressure from the pressure chamber I in motor I. If the motor I is mounted in a vertical position and the attached rod 8 and connected means (not shown) to be actuated possesses suificient weight, such weight may create sufiicient force to cause return of the piston 5 to the position in which it is shown in drawing, seated on such as an annular shoulder I8I formed in the head 4, and the chamber 6 would not need be pressurized On the other hand the nature of the" use to which motor 'I might be-put may demand pressurization of the chamber 6 and for this reason, the relay valve. device I9 is provided.

At the time that fluid under pressurev starts to release from the pressure chamber 1 via pipe I40 and communication I I8 in relay valve device I8, the pressure of fluid in the control chamber I02 in the relay valve device I9 will correspondingly reduce by flow through said pipe, and when a slight reduction in pressure in said, chamber I02 is thus obtained, the respective high compression control spring I I6 will effect immediate disestab lishment of the respective communication H9 and establishment of the respective communica= tion H8. Thus due to the difierential of fortyfive pounds pressure required to hold the communication H9 in relay valve device I9 established, the pipe I 68 will become connected to the supply pipe 26 to cause pressurization of the pressure chamber 6 in motor I substantially at the same time that the opposite pressure chamber 1' is vented, to cause return of the piston 5 to its original position.

At the same time that fluid under pressure from chamber I02 in relay valve device I9 and from pressure chamber 1 in' motor I releases to atmosphere via pipe I40, fluid under pressure also will release from the volume reservoir 22 and from chamber I03 in the relay valve device I8 via pipe I62, check valve device 2|, pipe I60, shuttle valve device 20 and said pipe l lfl to establish the same respective conditions of the control apparatus as assumed originally, preparatory to effecting an other cycle of operation by depression and release of the push button 58 on valve device I! as just described.

It should be pointed out, that by adjustment of the needle valve element I55, various rates of pressure build up in the respective chamber I03 in relay valve device I8 maybe obtained so as to acquire the desired time that the piston will be maintained in its extended position, opposite to that in which it is shown in the drawing. i

Summary It will now be seen that we have provided fluid pressure apparatus for controlling operation of a fluid pressure motor which will respond to temporary application of manual force, such as punching, or bumping, to a push button valve device to assume an operative position for a desired adjustable preset period of time and then automatically return to its original position. v v

Having now describedour invention, what We claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent,is:

1. Fluid pressure control apparatus for controlling operation of a fluid pressure motor, comprising a delivery pipe for conveying fluid under pressure to and from said motor, a source of fluid under pressure, a relay valve device responsive to establishment and disestablishment of a .certain degree of preponderance of pressure of fluid in a control chamber over pressure of fluid in another chamber to selectively establish either a first fluid pressure communication between said delivery pipe and said source or a'secondfiuid pressure communication between said delivery pipe and atmosphere, respectively, a shuttle valve device having one inlet, having another inlet connected to said delivery pipe, and having an outlet connected to saidicontrol chambenan operator's valve device operable" by manualfefiort to estab lish a fluid pressure connection between said source and said one inlet and comprising bias means effective upon termination of said manual efiort to terminate said fluid pressure connection, a needle valve device inserted in a fluid pressure communication between said outlet and said other chamber, a check valve device inserted in another communication between said outlet and said other chamber to allow for facile flow of fluid under pressure from the latter to the former but prevent flow of fluid under pressure in the opposite direction via said communication, and a volume reservoir connected to said other chamber.

2. In combination, a fluid pressure operable motor, valve means controlled by opposing pressures of fluid in two chambers and pressure of a spring cooperating with the fluid pressures acting in one of said chambers and operative when the pressure in the other chamber exceeds that in the one chamber by the pressure of said spring to supply fluid under pressure to both of said chambers and said motor and operative when less than the cooperating pressures of said spring and fluid in said one chamber to release fluid under pressure from said motor and both of said chambers, means for restricting flow of fluid under pressure to said one chamber relative to flow of fluid under pressure to said other chamber, a manually operative valve device for supplying fluid under pressure to said other chamber, and a double check valve having an outlet open to said other chamber and inlets open to receive fluid under pressure from, respectively, said valve means and valve device.

3. Fluid pressure control apparatus for controlling operation of a double acting cylinder device having flrst and second pressure chambers at opposite sides of an actuator piston, respectively, comprising a delivery pipe for conveying fluid under pressure to and from said first pressure chamber, a source of fluid under pressure, a relay valve device responsive to establishment and disestablishment of a certain degree of preponderance of pressure of fluid in a control chamber over pressure of fluid in another chamber to selectively establish either a first fluid pressure communication between said delivery pipe and said source or a second fluid pressur communication between said delivery pipe and atmosphere, respectively, a shuttle valve device having one inlet, having another inlet connected to said delivery pipe, and having an outlet connected to said control chamber, an operators valve device operable by manual effort to establish a fluid pressure connection between said source and said one inlet and comprising bias means effective upon termination of said manual efiort to terminate said fluid pressure connection, a needle valve device inserted in a fluid pressure communication between said outlet and said other chamber, a check valve device inserted in another communication between said outlet and said other chamber to allow for facile flow of fluid under pressure from the latter to the former but prevent flow of fluid under pressure in the opposite direction via said communication, a volume reservoir connected to said other chamber, and another relay valve device responsive to supply and release of fluid under pressure to and from said delivery pipe to selectively establish fluid pressure connection between said second pressure chamber and either atmosphere or said source, respectively.

4. In combination, two control pipes, a double acting fluid motor selectively operable to different positions in response to supply of fluid under pressure to either one of said pipes with the other pipe vented, valve means controlled by opposing pressures in two chambers and operative in response to a chosen preponderance in pressure in one of said chambers over that in the other chamber to supply fluid under pressure to both of said chambers and one of said pipes and operative in response to a less preponderance in said opposing pressures to release fluid under pressure from both of said chambers and said one pipe, means for restricting flow of fluid under pressur to said other chamber and providing for release of fluid under pressure therefrom in unison with release of fluid under pressure from said one chamber, manually operative means separate from said valve means for providing said chosen preponderance, and valve means operative by pressure of fluid in said one pipe to release fluid under pressure from said other pipe and responsive to release of fluid under pressure from said one pipe to supply fluid under pressure to said other pipe.

RALPH C. BROOKS. FRED S. WHALEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 840,877 Steedman Jan. 8, 1907 2,067,064 Platz Jan. 5, 1937 2,283,826 Soehner May 19, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 412,756 Great Britain July 5, 1934 

